Shaun Gssman : photo Steve Robertson

Rip Curl MP Classic

Men’s Open Speciality Event
Coolangatta Region, Queensland.
4 - 5 February 2006

Gossman Out for Four Event Wins: MP Honours Steph Gilmore

Surfersvillage Global Surf News, 4 February, 2006 : - - Three-time ‘Rip Curl MP Classic presented by Malibu’ champion Shaun Gossman (Burleigh Heads) continued to epitomize tournament patron Michael Peterson’s surfing domination of the mid 1970’s advancing through to round three of competition at Duranbah Beach on the Gold Coast today.

In epic 1.5 metre waves the South African expatriate and recent Australian citizen progressed behind hot local Jai Boyce in his bid for four consecutive wins in the fifth annual tournament – an almost unheard of surfing statistic. 

The talented 23 year-old opted to fore-go the start of the 2006 World Qualifying Series (WQS) in Brazil in order be apart of MP’s extraordinary history that saw a mental illness shutdown a brilliant and revolutionary surfing career in its prime.

Gossman’s biggest challenge is coming from Australia’s top junior surfers competing while currently training at Surfing Australia’s High Performance Camp at Casuarina Beach.  U/16 national champion Owen Wright (Culburra, NSW), U/18’s national champion Nick Vasicek (Gold Coast) and Sunshine Coast upstart Chris Friend, 15, (Maroochydore, Qld) all excelled despite the added pressure of their results playing a role in selection for the next Australian Junior Team.

“A couple of them were a little bit worried going up against the open guys, but a fair few of our boys also think they have a good chance of winning and are pretty keen on hooking into that three and a half grand and a spot in the trials at Bells.  It’s very inviting for them,” said Surfing Australia High Performance Coach and former WCT competitor Sasha Stocker.

Fifteen year-old Wright turned on one of the day’s stand-out performances to secure a top heat score of 16.23 out of a possible 20.  Sunshine Coast’ Friend also surfed with confidence to relegate high profile Matt Wilkinson (Copacabana, NSW) into second place – both surfers through to round two. 

With MP and Rip Curl co-founder Doug Warbrick watching on, wonder-kid Stephanie Gilmore impressed her male counterparts with a fluid display in the Malibu Expression Session.  Sunshine Coast junior Julien Wilson winning the best overall surfer and Wright the best maneuver awards, the pair sharign the $500 winner’s cheque.  Malibu matching the prize money with a $500 donation to ON TRACK Community Program a non-profit organisation which provides support in the areas of Mental Health.

In a surfing moment MP presented a stunned Gilmore with a key chain featuring a picture of him performing his trade-mark surfing cut-back at Kirra Point – taken  from the 16ml footage of movie classic ‘Morning of the Earth’. 

“That’s awesome, amazing, I’m so stoked” said Gilmore on accepting the gift.  “It was great to surf with guys, crazy watching them do some of those tricks.  I’ll be practicing those moves from now on.”

The 2006 Rip Curl MP Classic final is expected to be in the water tomorrow afternoon between 2 and 3pm Sunday, February 4th.  Organisers will re-access surf conditions tomorrow morning with the possibility of the final day being staged at the preferred venue of Kirra Point

For media information, please contact: Dane Sharp (0438 240 680 / dsharp@ripcurl.com.au) or Mark Flanagan (0408 619 929), who will both be on-site at Kirra this weekend.

RIP CURL MP CLASSIC FAST FACTS
What: Rip Curl MP Classic
Dates: February 4th & 5th, 2005
Location: Mobile event on the Gold Coast, Queensland
Entry: c/o Surfing Queensland by phoning (07) 5520 1165
Status: Men’s, Open to all ages
Surfing Australia Rating: Specialty Event
Prize Money: $10,000
Sponsors: Presented by Malibu with media partner Tracks magazine
Competition History: The first MP Classic was held in February 2002, staged by the Kirra Surfriders club to celebrate the great association MP had with Kirra Point and to honour their most famous life member.
Past Winners: 2002 - Shane Bevan, Kingscliff, NSW; 2003, 2004 & 2005 - Shaun "Goose Man" Gossman, South Africa/Gold Coast Qld
Big names: There will be plenty of great surfers at the event. Keep an eye on Gossmann and 2002 winner Shane Bevan, Kingscliff’s Shane Bevan and locals Samba Mann and Dave Reardon-Smith.

www.ripcurl.com

Previous reports:
# 1 : Rip Curl MP Classic set to score great waves at w/end 
# 2 : Coming soon
# 3 : Coming soon
# 4 : Coming soon 

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Steve Robertson

Contests- Surfersvillage